My name is Kay Thi Htin Kyaw, and I am a first class honors graduate with Bachelor in Architecture from the School of Architecture and Design at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). I have a passion for innovative design and problem-solving in architecture, supported by a strong work ethic and effective collaboration skills.
Guided by Francis D.K. Ching’s principle that architecture involves problem-solving, I gained valuable experience through projects at YTU and SOA+D. I believe that understanding various architectural branches is crucial for success, driving my continuous professional development.
Please review my portfolio to see my skills and projects. I am eager to bring my expertise and passion to a dynamic architectural firm.
-Thank You
PROFILE
Date of Birth - 26th Oct, 1998
Nationality - Myanmar
CONTACT
Phone - +66-657408812
Email - kaythihtinkyaw98@gmail.com
Line - @kathyhk_kate
LANGUAGES
Burmese
English
CONTENTS
Bachelor Thesis (2023)
Aquaculture
Academic (2023)
Social Housing
Academic (2022)
Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin
Competition (2021)
Futuristic Family House
Competition (2021)
BIM Drawings
Professional Experience and Selected Works
Exile Community Development Center
Bachelor Thesis 2023
01|RECLAIMED HAVEN FOR THE EXILES
Community Resilience and Development Center for Myanmar Exiles
Type: Community
Year: Bachelor Thesis, 2023
Location: Mae Sot, Thailand
The ongoing revolutionary crisis in Myanmar has led to a significant influx of immigrants seeking refuge in neighboring countries, particularly Thailand. This thesis explores the challenges faced by Myanmar exiles in Mae Sot and proposes an architectural solution that transcends conventional paradigms by offering a transformative space fostering healing, empowerment, and community resilience. The emphasis is on addressing the immediate needs of these displaced individuals and facilitating their integration into a new societal fabric. Through a comprehensive analysis of the sociopolitical landscape of Myanmar and the migration motivations of the displaced community, this thesis aims to establish an environment that not only ensures the immediate wellbeing of these individuals but also contributes to their long-term stability and growth in the face of profound upheaval.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The architectural concept uses village-like spatial planning to evoke a sense of home for exiles. Clusters of buildings create a feeling of visiting each other’s homes, with a central courtyard for festivals and communal events, promoting bonding and a shared sense of belonging. This design encourages interaction and storytelling, reminding users of their common country and culture, fostering unity, trust, and strengthened connections in a supportive environment.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
One Whole Mass
Highlighting the commonality behind different Ethnicities that bind its people together
Communal Space Integration
The courtyard as a common place that binds people with different intentions together.
Reminiscence of Village Living
Mimicking the village layout to foster a sense of visiting each other’s homes
Everyone
Under One Roof
Single roof connects all masses reminding their commonality despite their different stories and intentions to share their experiences and build trust in this center
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
1. Multipurpose Hall
Backstage Storage
Mechanical Room
Toilets
Community Lounge
Merchandise Store 7. Semioutdoor Game Area 8. Community Food Prep Area & Garden
COMMUNITY FOOD PREP AREA (Reminiscing Traditional Back House Kitchen)
Myanmar people’s valued Thanaka trees along the entry footpath to provide a familiar scent, evoking memories of home and offering a warm welcome as residents enter the compound.
DESIGN DETAILS
Patterns from the textiles of traditional clothing of various ethnic groups are used as design elements in the communal gathering space, reflecting and celebrating their unique identities and cultures.
LE CANOPY
Myanmar’s national Padauk tree is integrated into the center of the community courtyard, providing a familiar and sacred scent that evokes a sense of home for residents during their gatherings.
PADAUKTREE
The entrance is covered by Thanaka trees and the central courtyard is unrevealed to respect the user’s concern of privacy and insecurity.
The facade pattern draws inspiration from traditional Myanmar houses, where rattan and bamboo were commonly used as building materials,to mimic the design of old houses, reflecting the architectural heritage.
BAMBOOPATTERN
SEWING WORKSHOP
CENTRAL COURTYARD (Portraying Movie Night)
EXPLODED STRUCTURAL DIAGRAM
Solar Shingle Roof
Wooden Truss covered with wood plates Wood Beams Wood Purlins
Wood Grill Ceiling
4-Columns Timber Column
Wood Walls
Concrete Floors
MODEL
Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange Center
Academic Project 2022
02|REIMAGINED SYNERGISM
Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange Center
Type: Educational
Year: Academic Project, 2022
Location: Bang Khun Thian, Thailand
The local communities in Bang Khun Thian rely on aquafarming as o vital business. Nevertheless, this sector can pose environmenta problems when not managed sustainably. This proposal advocates for a research and knowledge exchange center, which would be overseen by KMUTT, to leverage its resources and expertise towards developing innovative technologies for aquafarming that promote sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The center aims to provide opportunities for higher-income families to launch their aquafarming businesses by offering training, mentorship, and funding support. Moreover, the proposal entails constructing outdoor informal classroom pavilions, where visitors can acquire insights into the local community, aquafarming ventures, and mangrove ecosystems.
Social Housing
Academic Project 2022
03|THE BALANCE
Din Daeng Social Housing
Type: Residential
Year: Academic Project, 2022
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
This social housing project in DinDaeng district is designed to cater primarily to low to medium-income residents, focusing on providing a nurturing environment for elders and children who predominantly stay at home during the day. Located in a downtown area lacking green spaces for relaxation, the concept integrates extensive greenery throughout the building. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also promotes social interaction and mental well-being among residents. The design emphasizes the integration of open green and community spaces, aiming to create a balanced living environment that supports the needs of its diverse community while addressing urbanization’s impact on the environment.
DESIGN CONCEPT
a reintegration of green spaces to restore balance in our lives. This residential housing project emphasizes architectural and psychological balance through abundant green spaces, fostering social interaction and reducing mental fatigue. Aligning with the UN’s 17 SDGs, the design features open spaces beyond residential units, optimizing daylight and ventilation to lower the carbon footprint. Additionally, sustainable practices like rainwater collection, greywater recycling, PV panel energy generation, and electric vehicle charging stations are integral to the design.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
Breaking Down
The rectangular mass is split into two parts to enhance interaction spaces and improve fire safety through easier evacuation.
Integration
Extrusion
Units are arranged and extruded to create corner rooms with panoramic views, enhancing both dimension and aesthetics.
Vertical and horizontal circulation, along with the service shaft, are integrated into the mass. Corridors connect the two sides, fostering resident interaction.
Variation
Extrusions every three floors create open green and community spaces, shielding them from direct sunlight for resident comfort.
To enhance the biophilic design, the podium facade mimics tree trunks, offering an indirect forest experience alongside direct biophilic features.
There is nothing simpler than meditation. How diverse and different meditation is perceived, the common ground of all is choosing to focus on one thing simultaneously, trying to concentrate as long as one can. The meditating experience we would like to deliver as in the cabin has no limit at all. The place will be accommodated by multiple people who would enter holding their own perspectives and thoughts. Some would prefer silence. Some would go for better realizations. Some would close their eyes while practising whereas some would keep looking at one specific thing to practice. But at the end of the day, they will take in what resonates in them and leave what does not. Our main goal is to be able to provide the environment where the recentering and rediscovering of oneself can be attained, without trying but with the aid of surrounded nature and a bit of human touch.
Meditation influences the people to reflect themselves and to find the point of origin where all kinds of energy come from. Considering the primary confent of culture and history of the land and the essence of life where the deep thoughts will be ongoing, the cabin was established to get inspired by the Koru of the Maori people which symbolizes the growth and the return to the point of origin. The organic curve embedding the soul of Koru was designed to get camouflaged with the encircling wood whereas its orientation and configuration were set in a position that can accumulate the concentration to a certain place alongside the welcoming carved ornament panel echoing back inside.
The fact that the meditation needs all the attention in one place avoiding all the distractions incoming inspires the cabin to get entwined with the four most fundamental elements of all beings. As where the nature is comprised of water, fire, air and earth, it is speculated that these, as well, cause the origin of human. The built environment was put up to be able to detect the distinct presence to contemplate within or around oneself while perceiving relationship between nature and humans.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATIONS
SECTIONS
Futuristic Family House Design Competition 2021
05|THE DRAPE HOUSE
Futuristic Family House
Type: Residential
Year: Embassy of Design, Design Competition, 2021
Location: Yangon, Myanmar
The word HOME would be the warmest statement in next 100 years dictionary at which the world is all about advanced technology, high transparency, and extendable lifestyles for humans to last as survival is the only answer we all are seeking at the end of the day. But the question here is will humans who are made up of feelings and sensory consciousness can resonate with all the side effects of fully advanced technologies and mentally survive? Based on that consideration, what we are trying to bring into this house is based on 4 keywords – EMOTIONAL SECURITY, MINDFULNESS, LOVE and SURVIVAL with the help of architectural elements.
SON
19 years old
GRANDMA
65 years old
Plantsman
Burmese
University Student
Hybrid MOM
42 years old
Architect
Burmese
DAD
45 years old
Microbiologist
German
CONCEPT
EMOTIONAL SECURITY (Shifting Entrance Capsule)
The entrance from outside is made movable to redirect the actual entrance into the house to give the emotional security by bringing people into the house safely, disconnecting from the outside and making the entrance clueless after the entry.
LOVE (Hugging Arms)
The arms held inside the sides of outer wall convey the framed broad view towards the Yangon River when kept inside their pockets and portray the embracement and love when fully brought out and wrap the whole space.
MINDFULLNESS (Water as a Medium)
Trying to create the inside to be warm, balanced and calm which is contrast from the other side of the wall, the outside which is extreme, speedy and busy, a medium (water) which has the ability to slow down the whole process is added to make the inhabitants at ease.
SURVIVAL (Heart of the house)
The heart (livable space) without attachment to main structure to avoid earthquake damage in the meantime will sooner or later be the survival ship ready to sail off to safe zones with all-time-round saved energy and resources when the outer shell were destroyed by severe crisis or even apocalypse. Who knows?
BIM Revit Proficiency
Three-Story Building Design
06|BIM REVIT
Technical Drawings
Type: Residential Year: Academic Assignment, 2023
This section of my portfolio demonstrates my proficiency in Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Revit. It showcases detailed drawings and documentation created for a three-story building project. These construction documentation drawings highlight my ability to utilize BIM software effectively in architectural design, ensuring precision, coordination, and efficiency throughout the design process.
This chapter highlights a collection of my work from various architectural firms, demonstrating my versatility and growth as a junior architect. Each project reflects my ability to contribute effectively to different phases of design and documentation, showcasing my skills in conceptual design, client presentations, and technical documentation.
Junior
Architect | Studioort (Bangkok, Thailand)
July 2024 - Present
• Role: Collaborated with the head architect to develop conceptual approaches in master planning and 3D design
• Key Contributions: Independently prepared client presentations and reviewed construction documents, ensuring alignment with design intentions and project goals
• Outcome: Successfully delivered a comprehensive conceptual framework that guided the project’s development.
Task1: To study the topography of the site and develop a site context diagram
Task2: To study the different possibilities of the site approach
Task3: To develop the options for conceptual masterplanning according to the conceptual approach
Task4: To visualize the 3D conceptual mood and vibe of the space
Project: Koh Phangan Famila Villas
Junior Architect | Citizens ID (Yangon,
Myanmar)
September 2023 - Present
• Role: Assisted senior architects during the design production stage, focusing on hotel projects.
• Key Contributions: Took charge of the preliminary design and client presentation preparation, integrating feedback to refine and enhance design proposals.
• Outcome: Delivered a polished and client-approved design proposal that moved the project into the next development stage.
Task1: To study the site and develop diagrams of site analysis for client presentation
Task2: To develop conceptual masterplanning following the slope analysis
Project: Kalaw Hotel
Task3: To develop massing of the restaurant, spa building, and reception building within the hotel compound
Project: Thilawa Hotel and Entertainment (Restaurant Zone)
Task1: To develop the spatial concept of the restaurant zone
Task2: To render the preliminary design stage planning for client presentation
Task3: To model the preliminary design of one building from restaurant zone
Project: Kalaw Hotel
Project: Thilawa Hotel and Entertainment (Glamping Zone)
Task1: To develop the different options of the massing development for the glamping cabin
Internship | Architects49 Limited (Bangkok,
Thailand)
June 2023 - August 2023
• Role: Contributed to commercial projects, including hotels, shopping malls, and airports, during various phases of design and planning
• Key Contributions: Focused on conceptual design, program calculation, and visual presentations that supported the project’s overall design vision.
• Outcome: Developed a series of visual presentations that effectively communicated the design concept to stakeholders,
Project: Utapao Airport City
Task: To develop the conceptual massing for hotel, shopping mall, and restaurant, and calculate the program requirements
Project: Bangkok MRT Entrance
Task: To study different options for MRT entrance
Project: One Bangkok Hotel
Task: To visualize the design development diagrams
